The House Round the Bush

                                 The House Round the Bush 

 ~ 🤍 Mridini                                                                                                  April - 09 - 2020

As I turned round the bush, a darkness loomed over me, and I stepped from the scorching heat, into the
cold, empty space in front of me. I met with a very peculiar and unfamiliar sight. A building I'd never seen before, it towered above me. 

As I ventured closer, I could see that its walls were scratched, and the paint was peeling off. Windows
were grubby and soiled, and some were broken and cracked. It’s tiled roof was arched in an unusual
slope. The grass was sparse and the ground below it was dry. A gentle breeze rustled through the nearby
trees, and occasionally, a crows ‘caw’ could be heard. The wooden steps sagged as I climbed up to the
door.

My heart was racing, and my hair stood on end. I grasped the cold metal knob firmly and pushed against the door. To my surprise, it swung open with a mighty creak.  I loitered slowly through the doorway. In the darkness, I could make out the shiny clusters of cobwebs on the ceiling, and the dark shapes formed by mold on the walls. The wooden floorboards squeaked and sighed with every step.
Nooks and crannies were homes to mice and scorpions, and a ledge near the ceiling held a crows nest.

The entire house was bathed in dust. 

 I had entered a very old fashioned room. Antique couches and chairs were spread all across the room.
Lavish trinkets and plates had been left on top of an old oak table. The once velvety and bright orange
curtains, hung over the cracked glass windows. 

Soon I found myself in the main corridor. Here, a single ray of sunshine broke the eternal darkness of the house. The corridor forked off in two paths, and I followed one to another long and narrow hallway. It grew unusually cold, and I could feel a presence around me. Then suddenly, I could hear knocking. I
turned around, but saw no one behind me. I walked further, to examine the room. A large, carved
wooden cupboard stood in the corner. The knocking was coming from there. 

The next few seconds were a complete blur. The cupboard shook, and what was a  low moan grew
louder and louder until it felt like it was coming from within me. windows rattled and candle stands flew.

I knew I had to get out of there. 

Sprinting through the corridor, I made my way back to the front door. Jerking it open, it fell in front of
me with a crash. Something brushed my shoulder, sending chills up my spine. Without another glance, I
took off. Across the cold empty space, dry sparse grass and around the bush. I would never come back here again.

                      An original short story, written by Mridini.